Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have a short time. I welcome the budget and especially the work the Minister has done over the years. It is a fact that the Minister is hardworking, efficient and effective. I also pay tribute to her staff around the country. As a TD and public representative for 50 years, and I suppose I drive everyone mad by ringing up about clients, but I have to say on the record that the Minister's Department is the best there is. It gives instant responses and the Department comes back straight away. It looks after people exceptionally well. I am sure I speak for all Members of the House when I say how much we all respect her Department. I wish all other Departments were as efficient as hers. Having put that on the record I will say more good things.

The fact that the House is not full of people to talk about the Social Welfare Bill is important because it shows that it is effective. There is no significant adverse criticism of the welcome changes the Minister is making. It is important they continue and that we encourage the Minister in that regard.

I will bring two issues to the Minister's attention. The first was brought to my attention today. It is not specifically germane to her Department. The mother of a school secretary has passed away in England and due to not having full State employment that person cannot get paid compassionate leave to attend the parent's funeral. There should be way under the Minister's Department or the Department of another Minister at the Cabinet table, for everyone to have that right. Everyone has a right to compassionate leave, but not to be paid.

If someone's mum or dad who lives in England or another country dies, we should cover that.

My next point is on older people. I am someone who is heading into that youthful cohort in reasonably good health, but as people age, their health eventually becomes compromised. People in nursing homes get poor dental care. They have rights and entitlements under the treatment benefit scheme and so on, but given that 28,000 to 30,000 older persons are in nursing homes, we need the Government to engage proactively in looking after them better, particularly where dental care is concerned. While I am not saying this applies to all older people, many older people have poor dental hygiene and suffer heart conditions and other health problems as a result. We should find a way of looking after older people better. We should have a mandatory scheme whereby all over-65s, not just those in nursing homes, should have routine and professional cleaning of their teeth free of charge and at the Department’s cost regardless of their income because they will live longer if they get that. Dental care is important.

I will probably not be able to myself clear in the five seconds I have left, but I am happy to discuss this suggestion with the Minister. Older people should have free dental care, including teeth cleaning, under future budgets. This would make them live longer, happier and better lives pain free. The capacity to live longer is critical, but their dental needs are not being met at the moment.

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